Capturing the world through photography, video and multimedia

A mother takes a photograph of her son in front of the Washington Monument, which is closed indefinitely after Tuesday's magnitude 5.8 earthquake in Virginia left cracks near the top of the 555-foot obelisk.

A visitor takes pictures of "Blue Sheep," sculptures made up of saturated polyester resin, in front of the local parliament building. Artists Rainer Bonk and German Berta-Maria Reetz set up the sculptures for one day during a tour of the country. According to the artists, it aims to draw attention to the environment.

Demonstrators block a main street with barricades during a 48-hour national strike, in which students, workers and citizens demand reforms in the public education system and better salaries and healthcare.

Some officers flee as opposition supporters break through a police cordon during a contentious rally on independence day in Ukraine. Thousands of opposition supporters marched to the presidential administration building to protest the trial of former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko.

Pictures in the News | August 24, 2011

Wednesday’s Pictures in the News begins in Washington, where the Washington Monument will remain closed indefinitely after Tuesday’s magnitude 5.8 earthquake in Virginia left cracks near the top of the 555-foot obelisk.

They’re getting nutty in Scotland with the 65th Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Street entertainers perform on the Royal Mile to promote their shows including the fan-favorite bed of nails stunt.

In Germany, a high-speed train collided with a tractor in Lippstadt-Deddinghausen and “blue sheep” dot the landscape in front of the Landeshaus in Kiel.

Elsewhere, rebel fighters celebrate after overrunning Moammar Kadafi’s compound in Tripoli; police run as opposition supporters break through a barrier during a rally on the 20th anniversary of Ukraine’s independence in Kiev; and demonstrators block a main street during a 48-hour strike in Santiago, Chile.